Principles of Behavioral Neuroscience

An engaging second edition undergraduate textbook for a first course in brain and behavior. Omitting unnecessary detail, each chapter focuses on key concepts. The book features cutting-edge neuroscience approaches, compelling illustrations, easy to understand research synopses, and thought-provoking review questions.

How does brain activity give rise to sleep, dreams, learning, memory, and language? Do drugs like cocaine and heroin tap into the same neurochemical systems that evolved for life's natural rewards? What are the powerful new tools of molecular biology that are revolutionizing neuroscience? This second edition undergraduate text explores the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. It clears away the extraneous detail that so often impedes learning, and describes critical concepts step by step, in straightforward language. Rich illustrations and thought-provoking review questions further illuminate the relationship between biological, behavioral, and mental phenomena. With focused, engaged writing, even the more challenging topics of neurotransmission and neuroplasticity become enjoyable to learn. This streamlined text includes all key information, allowing readers to remain focused and enjoy the feeling of mastery that comes from a grounded understanding of a topic, from its fundamentals to its implications.